Rex Ryan brilliantly defused the tsunami of attention that’s engulfed him since The Post first revealed the emotional, teary-eyed speech he delivered to his players in a Monday meeting.

Ryan opened his press conference yesterday with a box of Kleenex in hand.

Ryan, comfortably displaying his self-deprecating sense of humor while a storm of criticism has brewed around him and his struggling team, playfully announced, “I’ve got a new sponsor. The Jets have Toyota and I’ve got Kleenex . . . for obvious reasons.

“I’m man enough to be me,” Ryan said, not showing any shame for shedding tears in front of his players. “If I don’t fit the stereotype of coach speak or anything else, so be it. I’m going to always be myself.”

Ryan, in an attempt to dull the edge of criticism rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez has gotten for his postgame press conference reading off prepared notes, had some notes at the ready as well.

After showing off his box of Kleenex, Ryan pulled out a sheet of paper from his pocket and said, “Let me go ahead and get this out and read my statement I had,” poking fun at Sanchez’s awkward Sunday moment following the 24-22 loss to the Jaguars. “It says here New England’s pretty good. Any questions? OK.”

Ryan’s show of emotions in that team meeting has received universal support from his players.

“It’s an emotional game and that just showed his passion,” linebacker Calvin Pace said. “If I was in that situation, I would’ve cried, too, man. I guess when you play a sport like this, sometimes it’s shocking to see a grown man express emotion.”

Jets left guard Alan Faneca said, “No offense, but this isn’t high school football anymore. It’s a fun game, but it’s a serious game. It’s a yearlong process and there are a lot of things that get built up and pent up.

“I’ve cried the year we won the AFC championship with Pittsburgh and went to the Super Bowl. I was bawling after the game because it was my third chance after missing it a few times.

“Those things build up.”

Ryan didn’t seem rattled that word of his emotional outpouring in the team meeting leaked out to Tuesday’s Post.

“Everything’s out and sometimes you say things to your team and you don’t realize that everybody will find out,” he said. “That’s fine and dandy. One thing I’ll say is I’ll be true to myself.”

Ryan, who in the offseason boldly said he was not here to “kiss” Bill Belichick’s Super Bowl rings, has refused to change despite seeing his team lose five of its last six games after a 3-0 start that spurred huge expectations.

Asked if he was surprised at how big a deal the story became, Ryan joked said that he needed to grab a tissue.

“It’s more passion than it is anything else,” Ryan said. “It’s driven that way. I have a strong belief in myself and this football team. If that comes out, it comes out.”